The Long Awaited Post-Grad Advice!!

Dear Reader,

Since college graduation, my life has changed in ways that I didn't know it needed to. The past eighteen or nineteen years, my life has been centered around my education. My days were already scheduled for me, and the routine it created allowed me to not have to worry about what was next. Rather than studying literature and writing, I notice that life is teaching me more about myself and others. Moreover, these past four months or so, I realized I am responsible for my day and what I plan to do with it, and being productive with my time is crucial. Through learning about myself and others I have decided to share some personal advice that could help one figure out what to do next after that degree is finally acquired.  

  Contents of Advice

    1. Stay Busy

               - read

               - hobbies

               - goals

               - blog

    2. Have a Show to Binge

    3. Spend Time with Family, Friends, or Pets

    4. Create Positive Habits

            - take care of yourself

            - stay organized 

            - don't get bitter

    

    Staying Busy

It is imperative to make sure that you are doing something you enjoy. Personally, if I don't have anything to do that serves me well, then who even am I? If you are like me and don't have something to do with your hands and mind, it feels as if you are missing a piece of yourself. To prevent that void, I have kept myself occupied to make myself feel better. My blog has been a lifesaver because it gives me something to think about even when I'm not actively on my computa. Ideas for what to post are something I enjoy brainstorming, and Pinterest is already a tool for me.

Thanks to TikTok, my endless scrolling has shown me popular bloggers such as Diva Punk, Diary of an Indigenous Diva, and Lotus of My Soul. I've noticed myself feeling icky if I have been on TikTok all day because I start to realize TikTok is feeding me whatever it thinks I want to watch. At some point, you start to notice the same theme over and over again due to watching one TikTok longer than the rest. Once I think too much about what my FYP is trying to get me to watch, the mood to scroll is no longer there.

A goal of mine is to practice my writing, and reading books is just as important. Disclaimer: I am being naughty, though. I'm not reading any of my books. I have a decent amount of books, yet they have not been read. My books are serving as decoration right now because I don't have a shelf yet in the apartment. The twin towers of books are stacked in a corner on the ground in the living room, waiting to get to know me.

If books aren't your thing, like me apparently... lol, I recommend doing crafts. Being inspired by art and people helps us create the things that represent ourselves. Our creations blossom the more inspired we become, so always make sure you are doing something you love. Always be sure to keep your goals in mind and do everything the best you can with passion.

    Have a Show to Binge

As an adult, when life feels monotonous, television becomes an excellent source of entertainment. I love having something to look forward to, and adulting is not exactly exciting. Since post-grad, I've been watching T.V. regularly when I get off work. This routine is universal, and now I get why it is such an important part of culture. Feelings of excitement occur when that weekly episode is available to watch, and that excitement doesn't leave because there is something to look forward to the following week.

A little over a month ago, I started watching season 22 of Project Runway, and now that the season is over, I feel a little empty. I then watched season 21 with Veejay and season 4 with Christian Siriano. I'm a little Project Runway(ed) out, so currently I am watching RuPaul's Drag Race. I finished season 5 with Alyssa Edwards and Coco Montrese. It was soo tea, and that season is probably my favorite. I just finished season 11 this past weekend. I loved Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, and Nina West. They were sooo amazing.

Boyfriend is at work when I'm watching my shows, so the time I have to myself to watch T.V. is a valuable part of my daily routine, and I highly recommend it. However, when he is home from work, we typically watch T.V. as well. We began watching season 4 of Ted Lasso recently, which is perfect for lighthearted laughs and positivity. Though, at times, I want to watch something that is unconventional and disturbing—my apologies. Sometimes I'm in the mood to watch something true-crime-related, creepy, or a documentary of sorts.

For example, a few nights ago, boyfriend and I started O.J. Unseen: Exploitation of Evil. O.J. is so bizarre and is so good at making people uncomfortable. While watching the docuseries with boyfriend, the show's awkwardness is so strong it can be felt, lol. We haven't watched it since that night, but another show I've started watching is That's So Raven. Early 2000s and mid-2000s Disney fashion is so peak. Raven's fur-trim jackets convinced me I need one, which then turned into two, lmao. Thank you, Depop.

One denim jacket has brown fur, and the other denim jacket has navy blue fur. I highly recommend watching iconic shows from childhood because the fashion is inspiring. Anyways, having a show on hand to keep you entertained brings joy to the monotonous routine of life.

    Spend Time with Family, Friends, or Pets

I've noticed lately that scheduling time for family or friends is getting harder. I can't just text my bestie and hang out within that same week, let alone the same day like we used to. Now that we have jobs, boyfriends, and other plans that affect our daily routines, making time for your favorite people is something you have to really want—or else it's just not going to happen. Socializing is just as important as anything else, and friendship is something that deserves care and attention. According to Aristotle and me, staying in touch shows your loyalty to your dear people. Tending to your relationships is essential to a good and flourishing life.

Family is just as important; they are the reason you are who you are. Unless there has been a falling out, be around people you feel good around, people who lift you up while you do the same for them. Recently, I moved out of my parents' house for the first time a few months ago. We live downtown now, and my mom's house is about 10–15 minutes away. I just know I will STRUGGLE not having my sister and mom around when my boyfriend and I move out of this bottom-of-the-barrel town. I must make sure to stay close with my mom and sister. They are my rocks, and I will need to call them regularly once we are out of town.

Later in the future, my family will be on the other side of the phone, over four hours away, but I've learned that friends and family are forever, and a pet is a blessing!

When we move, I will have nothing at first, just my boyfriend and now our new baby! My boyfriend and I just got a cat. This cat has been around our complex since before we even moved in. Our baby's name is Princess Zelda Olson-Franklin, but Princess for short, of course. Princess is a diluted, long-haired tortoiseshell, and we suspect she is a year or two old. It is a miracle that she has survived during this hot summer. My boyfriend and I rescued her from the dangerous streets of downtown, and she is adjusting to the new castle she now resides in. Princess is friendly, reserved, and cautious. Surprisingly, she is a sweet cuddler when it's bedtime. I am so happy we are finally parents, and we can't wait for her personality to become stronger once she feels completely comfortable.

Friends, family, and pets are an excellent source of protein (jk) and happiness. Don't take relationships for granted.

    Create Positive Habits

Everything we do is a reflection of ourselves. Putting your best foot forward and giving your all in anything you do will get you further than you can imagine. As a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, not taking my medication can make me feel unmotivated and less like myself. My medication helps me enjoy completing tasks that I would normally put off. However, medication shouldn't be considered a crutch, so having a plan, a checklist, and a good attitude helps me stay on track and accomplish what I need to.

Practicing gratitude has always been important to me. Staying grateful for things, big or small, can change your entire mindset for the better. When I journal, writing down what I am grateful for reminds me to appreciate what I have. Life throws many curveballs, but focusing your attention on all the good things that have happened allows you to accept the good things that can come.

Being bitter over things that are out of your control impacts the way you feel about everything, from how you feel about people and your job to how you feel about life overall. The domino effect of negativity and distance from your best, positive self can prevent you from noticing the joy that surrounds you. Most importantly, finding the good in all things can make a bad moment feel like a small speed bump rather than creating a bad day.

Taking care of your body is just as important as taking care of your mind. Staying active, whether that means going for a walk, taking a trip to the gym, having a peaceful yoga session, or going on a beautiful hike, creates much-needed chemical changes in your brain. These chemical changes, when done routinely, help keep your body and brain strong. Your brain needs healthy stimulation to grow to its best potential.

I need to make more of an effort to be active, present, and open to learning new things. As they say, your body is a temple, so making sure your body and mind are in a healthy state is crucial to your overall well-being.

                                                                                                                    Signing off,

                                                                                                                                                AD